Featuring: Big Sean & Metro Boomin, SOPHIE, Buddy, and more

Weekly updates

Bars is Acclaim’s weekly wrap up of all the music we want you to get in on. Whether it’s new albums, mixtapes, tracks, or videos, we’re here wading through the noise to bring you only the finest happenings in the world of music. Hit the list below to see what we’ve been bumping this week.

01. GL – 'Reflect/Destiny (Haima Dub)'

Melbourne duo GL have linked up with producer Haima for reworks of their tracks ‘Destiny’ and ‘Reflect’. These new dubs take the originals into atmospheric depths, with Haima using an array of soth synths and percussion to create a warmer house vibe. However, the electronic funk influence of the original tracks aren’t lost in the mix, as Haima maintains the groovy basslines that makes GL so damn catchy.

02. Yung Lean – 'Red Bottom Sky' (Video)

As the new year approaches, there’s no doubt that Yung Lean’s album Stranger was one 2017’s best. Filled with minimal drums, eerie synths, and subtle basslines, Stranger encapsulated the feeling of walking through a forest mid-winter. Now, Lean takes us there visually with the video for ‘Red Bottom Sky’, showcasing his singing skills in a montage of forests, lakes, and castles.

03. Rejjie Snow – 'Milk & Honey'

Irish emcee Rejjie Snow continues his journey into the realms of trap music with ‘Milk & Honey’. Ditching the lo-fi, boom bap inspired style of his previous works, Rejjie finds his flow over heavy 808s and keys, making for his hardest hitting banger yet. After a huge year that included the release of his The Moon & You mixtape, ‘Milk & Honey’ is a more than triumphant way to continue dominating in 2018.

04. Charbel – 'Passion Fruit'

Passion Fruit positions Charbel as a prodigy. The 18-year-old singer delves through the nostalgic sounds of ’90s R&B and neo-soul, and revitalizes them in an anthemic, experimental ways. Full of layered atmospheric synths and arena-ready drums Passion Fruit sits in a style that perfectly blends the likes of Frank Ocean with the vintage goodness of Stevie Wonder. With music like this, there’s no doubt that Charbel is serenading his way to stardom.

05. SOPHIE – 'Ponyboy'

‘Ponyboy’ is SOPHIE at her most explosive. Juxtaposing the inspirational warmth of ‘It’s Okay To Cry’, ‘Ponyboy’ is a crushing fusion of pop, hip-hop, and house that lands somewhere between Yeezus and early 2000’s Britney Spears. Its huge distorted basslines paired with its ethereal pads and eclectic synths give it somewhat of a dystopian feel. Of course Sophie’s undeniable swagger brings it back from the post-apocalyptic, and down to the dance floor.

06. Juñor – 'Top Flight' (ft. Mann)

Australian rapper Juñor’s new video for his single ‘Top Flight’ embodies the sky-high celebratory feel of the track. With a beat that contrasts mellow synths with club-ready 808s, Juñor along with LA rapper Mann bring a rapid flow that, along with the video, does nothing but ascend. Melded together by an irresistibly catchy hook ‘Top Flight’ journeys into the territory of undeniable banger that shows no signs of turbulence.

07. Sango – 'South End' (short film)

To accompany the fifth track, ‘One More Thing’, from his forthcoming album In Comfort Of, producer Sango has released a short film entitled South End. The film depicts three teenagers in the south end of Seattle with Sango himself describing it as a piece on “how we must protect them from harm”. Paired with the lush sounds of ‘One More Thing’, South End symbolises finding faith in a place where it may be lacking, resulting in an beautiful piece of inspiration.

08. Buddy – 'That Much'

‘That Much’ is an anthem of pride. Buddy finds a passionate flow in bars that depict his love of his hometown Compton, in a video where him and his friends cruise around his neighbourhood. The aggression in Buddy’s delivery paired with a bass heavy instrumental reeks of trap inspiration, however, don’t get it wrong—this is as West Coast as it gets.

09. Big Sean & Metro Boomin – 'Double Or Nothing'

Metro Boomin continues to dominate 2017 by pairing up with Big Sean and releasing their collaboration album Double Or Nothing. It’s exactly what you’d expect from these two, pairing rapid flows with melodic trap beats, as well as sporting features from Young Thug, 2 Chainz, and Swae Lee. If you were a fan of their grammy-nominated single ‘Bounce Back’ that dropped late last year then you’re going to love this album.

010. JPEGMAFIA – 'Baby I’m Bleeding'

Baltimore based rapper JPEGMAFIA is one of the most eclectic figures on the come up. His simple yet savvy flow mixed with the alarm-like urgency and distorted bass of this instrumental positions his sound between Father and Death Grips. Signing with experimental label Deathbomb Arc for his album release in early 2018, JPEGMAFIA is looking to make his splash in underground hip-hop, all while drowning in obscurity.